Ottumwa, Iowa Pest Guide
Ottumwa is the county seat of Wapello County in southeast Iowa. The Des Moines River splits the city into northern and southern halves.
This page pulls together the pest issues Ottumwa homeowners tend to run into, local places to get help, and how to check that a pest company holds a current Iowa license.
What Ottumwa homeowners see through the year
These seasonal patterns come from ISU Extension, which covers the whole state:
- Ants (spring). Wet springs bring busy soil-nesting ants and mounds in lawns. ISU's advice is usually to rake or hose the mounds flat. Our Iowa ant guide covers ants indoors too.
- Yellowjackets (late summer). Colonies grow from a single spring queen to as many as about 5,000 wasps by Iowa State Fair time, ISU says. If you find yellowjackets indoors after a frost, ISU says they almost always come from a nest inside a wall. Read wasp nest removal before you go near one.
- Fall invaders (September-October). ISU says boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles and stink bugs can't reproduce indoors and are mostly a nuisance. Exterior treatments only help if they're applied before the insects move in.
- Mice (fall). Native deer mice and white-footed mice look for winter shelter in homes, ISU says. Our guide on mice in your Iowa home covers sealing, trapping and safe cleanup.
Emerald ash borer in Wapello County
The state's list of officially confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) sites, last updated at the end of 2022, includes these Wapello County locations: Eddyville (2014); Eldon (2017). In October 2024, IDALS announced that EAB had been confirmed in all 99 Iowa counties. IDALS says an infested tree is typically killed within two to four years. Signs include canopy thinning, leafy sprouts from the trunk, S-shaped galleries under the bark, bark splitting, woodpecker damage and 1/8-inch D-shaped exit holes. If you own ash trees, get advice from a qualified tree care professional.
Local help in Ottumwa
- County Extension office: ISU Extension and Outreach Wapello County lists its office at 13011 120th Avenue, Ottumwa, IA 52501 (phone 641.682.5491). Extension offices are a good first stop for research-based yard, garden and pest information.
- Insect identification: the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic in Ames identifies insects mailed in by Iowans. Check its page for current forms and fees.
- Ticks: ISU's Medical Entomology Laboratory offers a free tick identification service by mail. It identifies the tick but does not test it for disease.
- Mosquitoes: the same ISU lab has run Iowa's mosquito surveillance program for about 50 years with state health partners, monitoring West Nile virus and mosquito numbers. Current data is on the Iowa Mosquito Surveillance website linked from its page.
Guides for Ottumwa homeowners
- Ant Exterminator Near Waukee: What to Expect and How to Choose a Pro
- Asian Lady Beetles in Iowa Homes
- Bed Bug Signs and What to Do in the Des Moines Metro
- Boxelder Bugs in Iowa Homes
- Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs in Iowa Homes
- Carpenter Ants in Iowa Homes: Signs, Nests and Fixes
- Cluster Flies in Iowa Attics and Homes
- Emerald Ash Borer in Iowa: All 99 Counties and What Ash Owners Can Do
- How to Get Rid of Ants in Iowa
- Mice in Your Iowa Home This Fall
- Wasp Nest Removal Near Waukee, Iowa
How to check a pest company's license in Ottumwa
Iowa requires anyone in the business of applying pesticides to another person's property to be licensed and certified by the state. To check a company:
- Open the IDALS license lookup and choose Search By Company/License.
- Type part of the company's name, or pick the county WAPELLO - 90 to see every company registered there.
- Check that the expiration date is in the future. Expiration dates in the lookup fall on December 31.
When we searched Wapello County on 10/21/2026, the lookup returned 48 company records. That count includes every license type (lawn care, agriculture, golf courses and pest control) and some expired records, so narrow it down by name. A company is listed under the county of its own address, so a company that serves Ottumwa may be listed under a neighboring county. Our guide on choosing a licensed pest pro has a checklist of questions to ask.
Local pest pros in Ottumwa
Above All Pest Control
LicensedOttumwa
Towns named on its site: Ottumwa
Family-owned Ottumwa company offering residential and commercial pest control for bed bugs, termites, rodents, roaches and ants.
- General pest control
- Bed bugs
- Termites
- Mice & rodents
- Cockroaches
- Ants
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Based in Ottumwa, serving surrounding areas in southeast Iowa.
IDALS company license record found (10770-001), checked 2026-10-21.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), searched by company name and by county on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 10770-001: Above all pest control, Ottumwa (Wapello County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://aboveallpestcontrol.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
All American Pest Control & Atomic Pest Control
LicensedOttumwa
Towns named on its site: Ottumwa
2502 North Court St., Ottumwa, IA 52501
Third-generation, family-owned company providing pest control for homes, farms and businesses since 1971, with residential, commercial and termite services.
- General pest control
- Termites
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Its site lists offices in Ottumwa, Fairfield and Grinnell (atomiciowa.com now opens this site).
IDALS company license record found (01592-001), checked 2026-10-22.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name ('Atomic') on 2026-10-22. Found active company license 01592-001: ATOMIC/DIV-ALL AM TERM & PEST, Ottumwa (Wapello County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://allamericaniowa.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
Orkin (Urbandale branch)
LicensedUrbandale
Towns named on its site: Adel, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Ottumwa, Marshalltown, Newton, Indianola, Pella, Oskaloosa
2929 99th St, Urbandale, IA 50322
National company's Urbandale branch; lists bed bugs, carpenter ants, stinging insects, wildlife, ticks, termites, mosquitoes and other pests.
- General pest control
- Bed bugs
- Ants
- Wasps & stinging insects
- Wildlife
- Ticks
- Termites
- Mosquitoes
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Branch page lists Adel, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and other towns. Its Ottumwa page (served by branch #527) also lists Indianola, Marshalltown, Newton, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa and Pella.
IDALS company license record found (02000-000), checked 2026-10-22.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 02000-000: ORKIN, Urbandale (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.orkin.com/locations/iowa-ia/urbandale-pest-control/branch-527, https://www.orkin.com/locations/iowa-ia/ottumwa-pest-control (checked 2026-10-22).
Pest Control Techs LLC
LicensedAlbia
Towns named on its site: Des Moines, Ottumwa, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Pella, Oskaloosa, Indianola, Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, Waukee, Altoona, Grimes, Adel, Newton
21 11th Ave W, Albia, IA 52531
Family-owned company based in Albia offering general pest, termite, bed bug, rodent, mosquito and fall-invader control in central and southeast Iowa.
- General pest control
- Ants
- Bed bugs
- Wasps & stinging insects
- Mice & rodents
- Termites
- Mosquitoes
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
- Boxelder/stink bugs & beetles
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Central and southeast Iowa; its service-area page names Des Moines, Ottumwa, Albia, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Pella, Oskaloosa, Indianola, Knoxville, Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, Waukee, Altoona, Grimes, Adel, Newton and other towns.
IDALS company license record found (11271-001), checked 2026-10-22.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name ('Pest Control Techs') on 2026-10-22. Found active company license 11271-001: Pest Control Techs LLC, Albia (Monroe County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://pestcontroltechs.com/service-area, https://pestcontroltechs.com/pest-control-oskaloosa-ia (checked 2026-10-22).
Springer Professional Home Services
LicensedDes Moines
Towns named on its site: Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Ames, Newton, Oskaloosa, Marshalltown, Indianola, Grimes, Waukee, Altoona, Fort Dodge, Ottumwa
1320 NE 60th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
Des Moines company offering residential and commercial pest, termite, bed bug, mosquito and wildlife services across central Iowa.
- General pest control
- Ants
- Bed bugs
- Wasps & stinging insects
- Mice & rodents
- Termites
- Wildlife
- Mosquitoes
- Spiders
- Ticks
- Cockroaches
- Commercial
Service area (their words): Central Iowa since 1989; its homepage names Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Ames, Newton, Oskaloosa, Marshalltown, Indianola, Norwalk, Grimes, Waukee, Pleasant Hill, Altoona, De Soto and Perry. It also has service pages for Fort Dodge and Ottumwa.
IDALS company license record found (02848-000), checked 2026-10-22.
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name ('Springer') on 2026-10-22. Found active company license 02848-000: SPRINGER PROFESSIONAL HOME SERVICES, Des Moines (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://trustspringer.com/, https://trustspringer.com/jasper-county/newton/, https://trustspringer.com/webster-county/fort-dodge/, https://trustspringer.com/wapello-county/ottumwa/ (checked 2026-10-22).
See all 77 listed companies by town →
Listings are informational, not endorsements or rankings, and no company paid to be listed. Details come from each company’s own website. Always verify an Iowa pesticide license with IDALS before hiring. Companies can request a correction or removal.
Is your business missing or wrong? Contact us with your website and the towns you serve.
Frequently asked questions
What county is Ottumwa in?
Ottumwa is in Wapello County, Iowa. The county matters for two things: which ISU Extension office is closest, and which county to choose in the IDALS license lookup.
Has emerald ash borer reached Ottumwa?
Yes. The state's confirmed-site list includes Eddyville (2014), Eldon (2017) in Wapello County, and IDALS confirmed EAB in all 99 counties in October 2024.
How do I know a pest company in Ottumwa is licensed?
Search the company's name in the IDALS lookup and check that the expiration date hasn't passed. A company saying it's licensed is not the same as a current state record.
Has emerald ash borer been confirmed in Ottumwa itself?
The state's 2022 list shows Wapello County sites at Eddyville (2014) and Eldon (2017), not Ottumwa. IDALS has since confirmed the beetle in all 99 counties, so ash trees in Ottumwa should be treated as at risk.
Nearby towns we cover
Sources
- Ottumwa, Iowa - Wikipedia (checked 2026-10-21)
- ISU Extension and Outreach Wapello County (checked 2026-10-21)
- EAB Confirmed Locations in Iowa (list last updated 12/30/2022) - IowaTreePests.com / IDALS (checked 2026-10-21)
- Emerald Ash Borer Now Confirmed in all 99 Counties - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-21)
- How to Manage Ant Mounds in Lawns, Gardens, and Pastures - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Yellowjacket Wasp - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- It is Accidental Invader Season Again - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Mice: Damage Management - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Submitting an insect for identification - ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (checked 2026-10-21)
- Tick Surveillance - ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory (Dr. Ryan C. Smith) (checked 2026-10-21)
- Mosquito Surveillance - ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory (Dr. Ryan C. Smith) (checked 2026-10-21)
- Pesticide applicator and company license lookup - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-21)
We link to the original sources so you can read them yourself. Product names are not endorsements.